Anthem in 7 Days

Here's some news to be anticipating at Anthem...

Today we decided on a date and location for our first ever Anthem in Iowa City. It's one of the most unlikely (and dark) places you could ever imagine! Where do you take a light? To a very dark place. We found one. Stay tuned.

I'll see you on October 7th, 8:00 p.m. at Cornerstone Church in Ames, Iowa for the big announcement.

- Mark

Anthem Countdown... 8 days away!

Wow, we are only 8 days away from our next Anthem in Ames.

Here's why I'm so stoked for this Anthem event: 

1. 1500 students packed into an auditorium for a night of passionate worship, prayer and connection with God... 

I'm there!

2. Some of these songs on the album have never been played by the Anthem band. 

Never? How is this possible, since they're on the album? 

Well, good question. "We are not the same" and "Sun to go down" were partially written in the studio. So Clint went up to Minneapolis to record the drum tracks all by himself. He sat with headphones on, and playing along with "We are not the same" and "Sun to go down" IN HIS HEAD. Dang. That's skill I don't have. He wrote the songs, recorded drum tracks, and then had everyone go up in shifts and add their layer/instrument/vocal to the song. Jesse and Ryan wrote some of the verses on their drive up to Minneapolis, modifying the verse lyrics/melodies that Justan had previously written. 

That's a very long way to say: "We are not the same" is going to rock on October 7th. I love shouting with you all, at the top of our lungs about how Jesus Christ has changed our lives. Because of him, we are not the same! Here's a blurry picture from my iphone of us playing it for the very first time at our song writing practice last Saturday in the Box at Cornerstone...

3. God responds to the worship and prayers of his people

"For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him." 2 Chronicles 16:9

"...God acts on the behalf of those who wait for him." Isaiah 64:4

What is God going to do? How is He going to ACT on our behalf as a result of our gathering? 

Come and find out. See you on the 7th. 

- Mark

ANTHEM song "Take the Day", performed @ Veritas Church, Iowa City.

Download now or watch on posterous

Take the Day @ VERITAS.mov (23462 KB)

There's something pretty cool about other churches playing songs that the Anthem team has written.
Here's a clip of Mark Duvick and the gang doing "Take the Day" at Veritas Church in Iowa City.
http://www.veritasiowacity.com/

"WITH ONE VOICE" ... the ANTHEM event ... October 7th ... 8:00 p.m. ... Cornerstone Auditorium ... BE THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

www.anthemworship.com

I was thinking today that even if an afterlife didn't exist, I would still want to spend the rest of my life with God.

What do you think?
- Ryan

DICTIONARY.COM: the word "Anthem" means ...

an·them

   [an-thuhm] 

–noun

1.

a song, as of praise, devotion, or patriotism: the national anthem of Spain; our college anthem.

2.

a piece of sacred vocal music, usually with words taken from the Scriptures.

3.

a hymn sung alternately by different sections of a choir or congregation.

–verb (used with object)

4.

to celebrate with or in an anthem.

May our songs of praise and devotion, taken from Scripture, be used by choirs and congregations everywhere, to rightly celebrate... our risen King.

http://www.anthemworship.com/